CWJ Vol I issue 3 - It's ready!

Volume I issue 3 is now ready, and will be posted out tomorrow. So you should be receiving it before Easter (overseas subscribers may have to wait till just after Easter for it to reach you). If it doesn't arrive as you hope, let me know.

PDF subscribers will be receiving theirs by email tomorrow.

Contents include:

• Tales from the Frontline -including a number of refights by Ian Allen set in the 1920s; a Napoleonic foragers encounter by Robert Arcangeli; an update on Chris Bowley's Franco Prussian project; plus lots more... and a letter of complaint from The Blasthof Parish Council!
• A Napoleonic scenario by Bob Varga
• 40mm GNW by Alasdair Jamison
• Viva Catalonia - Spain in early 18th century- Part 2 by Ray Caddy
• Indian Mutiny in 42mm by Daryl Haselton
• Desert Island Wargaming with ... Aly Morrison!
• Hyboria Part 3 of Peter Verduyn's Ancients campaign
• French & Indian Wars scenario by Terry Preen
• A 19th Century imagi-nations game by Stephen Caddy
• Tales of the Golden Head continue with Ian Allen
• One from the Archives - this time it's Tony Bath's NAXOS Campaign from 1957
• and rounding off, Conrad Kinch gives us his usual wry slant on the hobby.

Add to that, a few colour plates, and some more exquisite sketches by Chris Gregg, and a plethora of contributors' sketch maps.

plus the special pull-out by Ian Allen - think Ikea meets Airfix, and you get the templates to produce The Flatpack Fighter:

All in all, I hope there's enough for everyone.

Thanks to all the contributors as always.

All the very best

Phil

CWJ next issue

Next issue of The Classic Wargamer's Journal is due out in April, and it's all coming together nicely. Already I have loads of material. In fact, all I'm waiting for is the Desert Island Wargaming piece (you know who you are!!!!!) and I can start editing (ok, don't laugh - I know it's not proper editing... more just cutting and pasting really!)
Don't let the fact that I've got lots of articles put you off writing though as I do want to keep the stockpile up, and create as much variety as possible to ensure maximum period coverage for future issues too. And who knows, for balance, anything submitted in the next few days could also find it's way into this issue... the "editor" may on a whim replace one of his own pieces with something far more valuable from a contributor.

Anyway, a huge thank you to all who have once again made life so easy for me in producing such a wealth of material. Full details of all contents will be released in the next couple of weeks.

I'm also delighted to report that Chris Gregg has more wonderful sketches in this issue.
And, to show how grateful I am to Chris, I want to promote the work he is doing for a special exhibition in Gloucester in May. He has just completed a beautiful oil painting (22 inches x 16inches) of Gloucester during the ECW, and I simply felt I must share it here. So, with Chris's permission:

It is for sale, and you can contact Chris via his website:
http://cheltenham-art.com/chrisgregg.htm

By the way, I'm not involved at all, but such a fantastic work deserves as much publicity as possible.
All the best for now... and I promise, at some point I'll update on my own wargaming activity!

Latest Issue of CWJ

Just what you need to warm the heart, and to welcome in the New Year.
Volume I issue 2 is complete, and we are posting them out over the next 2 days.
PDF will be sent out Sunday/ Monday.

So, what's in store:
Well first thing to notice is the widening variety of periods covered in this latest issue, with Ancients to Modern, and all stations in between, and even some naval stuff.
There's a letter from Don Featherstone (amongst other correspondence and "Tales from the Frontline"), Greg Horne's Blasthof refight, Ray Caddy takes us to Spain 1713-14, Ian Allen is in the ACW, and the next episode unfolds in his Darkest Africa 1920s adventures. Peter Verduyn continues his Hyboria ancient campaign series, Capt Bill's Reich Duchy of Beerstein is featured, Stuart Asquith is at Hook's Farm, Allan Tidmarsh plays out a Viking Raid, and Chris Stringer is in AWI with Freeman's Farm. Stokes Schwartz provides advice on blogging and getting your armies onto the table, and we draw another action from the archives (this time it's from Sept 1957: the Battle of Lapin's Farm).

All embellished with Chris Gregg's sketches (a new feature which really does add something to the look of the journal I have to say), plus a few colour plates, and a proliferation of maps from the authors of individual articles (the guys have really gone to town on this!)

Should be plenty there to keep you going.
Thanks again to the contributors, and to you, the many subscribers.

And a Happy New Year... may 2011 be prosperous, and filled with wargaming happiness.

Season's Greetings

Looking back over 2010 with some satisfaction (somesay smugness, I guess). It's been a good year, with the following "Classic Wargaming" highlights:

• painting the Saxe Coburg regiment -  this keeps up the pledge of doing at least one "Classic Wargaming" unit per year, amongst all the other wargames activity on other projects. John Preece once said about his own collection building, that his goal was to simply add a fresh unit each year, of whatever he fancied doing, the idea being that over time a very satisfying collection can be created without too much fuss. Very much in the spirit of things in the CW genre methinks.
• the Spurlash Down game at Claymore in August - a chance to play with the troops in good company (thanks Alan, Phil and Tony), and meet some fellow wargamers who have a similar approach and appreciate this style of wargame.
• Publications such as Wargaming in History vol 2, and The Wargames Annual. Whilst not specifically "classic" in style, I include them here simply to bring them to your attention, and to say I am proud to have been involved.
• The Classic Wargamer's Journal - I never realised that dipping my toe into the water would reveal such a fantastic level of support. We have sold 273 Pilot Issues so far, and have 178 subscribers, which is way beyond what I had imagined. I'm delighted, and thanks must go to you all for supporting the venture, and not least to those who have contributed articles and have made the whole thing a joy. The many emails and letters expressing really heartfelt thanks are very much appreciated, and gave me a genuine boost to launch the project proper after the Pilot Issue. 
• receiving a letter from Don Featherstone- more on this in the next issue of CWJ.

Talking of CWJ ... I am starting to collate the many articles received for the next issue. As you can probably imagine, I am enjoying this immensely as my "business pen" has been put down for the year and I am now able to relax in an armchair with a glass of something seasonal. I can promise an issue that is definitely something to look forward to bouncing onto your door-mat in mid-January.

So, here's to you all... CWJ contributors, subscribers, and all visitors to the blog. Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous 2011. I trust you will have some exciting items under the tree, and maybe a game or two over the holidays.
Best wishes
Phil

Wargame Carols!

On one wargame forum, there's been a bit of mickey taking of what we might term "Old school Wargaming".
So, in the spirit of the season, here's a Carol (to the tune of Good King Wenceslas) about the old wargamer setting out his traditional boxing day game...

Old School Wargame, all set out, on the Feast of Stephen.

Contoured Hills lay all about, simply stacked and even.

Brightly shone his troops in gloss; others mocked him cru-el

This old gamer soldiered on, not trying to be kew-l

Ok, ok,....

More of these on my warcabinet blog.
Pop on over and add yours to the growing list of seasonal wargames tune-smithery.

A Proper Artist

When I put out a plea for a proper artist to help with some sketches for The Classic Wargamer's Journal, I was contacted in a matter of hours by one subscriber, Chris Gregg of Cheltenham, UK. 
Now, this is one talented fellow... on the wargaming front, where his well-painted armies do battle on exceptional terrain adorned with wonderful scratch-built edifices (I know this, because I've seen the pdf he produces for his club... and more of that anon); and also on the artistic front. Well, he's a proper artist you see, so as you can imagine I snapped up the chance to have Chris produce some sketches for CWJ (next issue is already looking good- but I would say that, wouldn't I?!).

In addition, having perused Chris's online gallery, I also commisioned a painting for my Christmas present. Now, the picture arrived - a wonderfully composed and executed piece showing a vedette of Bercheny Hussars on patrol.I only got a sneak preview before Liz whisked it away to be framed, but Chris also sent me a black and white scan of the piece, which is reproduced here, simply to show you what Chris can do, and as an insight into some of the artistry that will enhance CWJ in future issues.

You can view Chris' online gallery (see links). But be aware... he's a busy fellow, with a number of exhibitions coming up in 2011 for which he is producing some exquisite work. So, if you want to avail yourself of his services, you'll have to join the queue! If you are serious about getting some beautiful, original art, from someone who knows how to paint both landscapes and military subjects, I can certainly recommend Chris.

Otterlitz game

Just to show I haven't disappeared, buried under a deluge of submissions and subscriptions for CWJ (keep em coming...!), here are a few pictures taken at the home of Alasdair Jamison during a game last weekend. The game was a SYW version of the Otterlitz scenario recently featured in CWJ (and originally in War Gamer's Digest in 1957).

above: the town of Otterlitz, on the Rusian right flank, is about to have it's peace disturbed.

Above: Alasdair (on the left) seems confident about the Russian dispositions.

Below: the Prussians cross the stream

Above: The Prussian cavalry second wave charges the Russian right-centre.

Below: And now the chink in the armour of the Russian defence becomes a hole and the Prussian Dragoons prepare to exploit their breakthrough.

All figures from the collection of Alasdair Jamison.

I played the part of commander of the Russians (General Ivan Awfulitch), defending the ridgeline, ably asisted by Alasdair, with David Shuttleworth (see Wargames Amateur blog link) and Steve Ayers being the Prussian attackers. A full report is on David's blog... and in truth he has been kind to us Ruskis in his account. The reality is that whilst the game did hang in the balance till mid afternoon, in the end we were well beaten.